Observations on the River Wye and several parts of South Wales, &c. : relative chiefly to picturesque beauty, made in the summer of the year 1770

Although it was first published in 1782, Reverend William Gilpin’s Observations on the River Wye received attention within Gilpin’s circle as early as 1771. Following a trip to Wales in 1770, Gilpin compiled his detailed notes on, and line drawings of, Welsh landscapes, creating a comprehensive guidebook. The resulting manuscript was shared among his friends, many of whom urged Gilpin to publish, which he finally did in 1782. Gilpin’s Observations popularized a new approach to travel: picturesque tourism. As the title suggests, Gilpin encouraged visitors to Wales to travel along the river Wye, from which travelers could view distant landmarks and scenery framed by trees along the riverbanks. Gilpin highlighted certain views he deemed particularly picturesque; however, he often adopted a nuanced approach, placing scenes along a picturesque spectrum and describing the ways in which they were and were not picturesque.